How and when do children become a fitnah?

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Shaykh Saalih al-Fowzaan advises:

Children are a fitnah, [as Allaah (’Azza wa Jall) says]:

{Your wealth and your children are but a fitnah…} – soorah at-Taghaabun, Aayah 15

There is no doubt that you love your children; this is something which Allaah has instilled [in your hearts].

However, do you nurture them upon obedience to Allaah?

[And] are you patient with them [as you nurture them upon obedience to Allaah]?

Do you command them to pray at [the age of] seven, and when they begin to understand, do you teach them the matters of their religion?

[And] are you patient with them [as you teach them the matters of their religion]?

Do you ensure that you enjoin the prayers upon them, or are you lenient with them [in all of these matters]?

[So] you say “By Allaah! I love them, and I am not hard on them, nor am I responsible for them, and nor do I wake them up from their sleep [for prayer], and nor do I and nor do I…” ?

[Know that by adopting this approach] you have fallen into the fitnah.

They, the children, are a fitnah in terms of nurturing them [upon the religion], and disciplining them [in accordance with the religion], and checking on them as they enter and leave the home, and [outside] on the street, and at school; [as parents, you are solely] responsible for them…[indeed] they are a fitnah [as Allaah (’Azza wa Jall) says]:

{Your wealth and your children are but a fitnah…} – soorah at-Taghaabun, Aayah 15

He is a graduate of the Islaamic University of Madeenah, having graduated from the Institute of Arabic Language, and later the Faculty of Sharee'ah in 2004. He currently resides in Birmingham, UK.

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